annals of the parish(教区年鉴)-第25节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
I was fearful there was something of jocularity at the bottom of this； for
she was a flaunty woman； and liked well to give a good…humoured gibe or
jeer。 However； his grace the Commissioner was very thankful for the
discourse； and complimented me on what he called my apostolical
earnestness； but he was a courteous man； and I could not trust to him；
especially as my lord Eaglesham had told me in secrecy beforeit's true； it
was in his gallanting waythat； in speaking of the king's servant as I had
done； I had rather gone beyond the bounds of modern moderation。
Altogether； I found neither pleasure nor profit in what was thought so
great an honour； but longed for the privacy of my own narrow pasture； and
little flock。
It was in this visit to Edinburgh that Mrs Balwhidder bought her silver
teapot； and other ornamental articles； but this was not done； as she assured
me； in a vain spirit of bravery； which I could not have abided； but because
it was well known that tea draws better in a silver pot； and drinks
pleasanter in a china cup； than out of any other kind of cup or teapot。
By the time I got home to the manse； I had been three whole weeks
84
… Page 85…
ANNALS OF THE PARISH
and five days absent； which was more than all my absences together； from
the time of my placing； and my people were glowing with satisfaction
when they saw us driving in a Glasgow chaise through the clachan to the
manse。
The rest of the year was merely a quiet succession of small incidents；
none of which are worthy of notation； though they were all severally； no
doubt； of aught somewhere； as they took us both time and place in the
coming to pass； and nothing comes to pass without helping onwards to
some great end； each particular little thing that happens in the world being
a seed sown by the hand of Providence to yield an increase； which
increase is destined； in its turn； to minister to some higher purpose； until at
last the issue affects the whole earth。 There is nothing in all the world
that doth not advance the cause of goodness； no； not even the sins of the
wicked； though； through the dim casement of her mortal tabernacle； the
soul of man cannot discern the method thereof。
85
… Page 86…
ANNALS OF THE PARISH
CHAPTER XXI YEAR 1780
This was； among ourselves； another year of few events。 A sound； it is
true； came among us of a design； on the part of the government in London；
to bring back the old harlotry of papistry； but we spent our time in the lea
of the hedge； and the lown of the hill。 Some there were that a panic
seized upon when they heard of Lord George Gordon； that zealous
Protestant； being committed to the Tower； but for my part； I had no terror
upon me； for I saw all things around me going forward improving； and I
said to myself； it is not so when Providence permits scathe and sorrow to
fall upon a nation。 Civil troubles； and the casting down of thrones； is
always forewarned by want and poverty striking the people。 What I have；
therefore； chiefly to record as the memorables of this year； are things of
small importthe main of which are； that some of the neighbouring lairds；
taking example by Mr Kibbock； my father…in…law that was； began in this
fall to plant the tops of their hills with mounts of fir…trees； and Mungo
Argyle； the exciseman； just herried the poor smugglers to death； and made
a power of prize…money； which； however； had not the wonted effect of
riches； for it brought him no honour； and he lived in the parish like a leper；
or any other kind of excommunicated person。
But I should not forget a most droll thing that took place with Jenny
Gaffaw； and her daughter。 They had been missed from the parish for
some days； and folk began to be uneasy about what could have become of
the two silly creatures； till one night； at the dead hour； a strange light was
seen beaming and burning at the window of the bit hole where they lived。
It was first observed by Lady Macadam； who never went to bed at any
Christian hour； but sat up reading her new French novels and play…books
with Miss Sabrina； the schoolmistress。 She gave the alarm； thinking that
such a great and continuous light from a lone house； where never candle
had been seen before； could be nothing less than the flame of a burning。
And sending Miss Sabrina and the servants to see what was the matter；
they beheld daft Jenny； and her as daft daughter； with a score of candle
86
… Page 87…
ANNALS OF THE PARISH
doups； （Heaven only knows where they got them！） placed in the window；
and the twa fools dancing； and linking； and admiring before the door。
〃What's all this about； Jenny；〃 said Miss Sabrina。〃Awa' wi' you； awa' wi'
youye wicked pope； ye whore of Babylonis na it for the glory of God；
and the Protestant religion？ d'ye think I will be a pope as long as light can
put out darkness？〃And with that the mother and daughter began again to
leap and dance as madly as before。
It seems that poor Jenny； having heard of the luminations that were
lighted up through the country on the ending of the Popish Bill； had； with
Meg； travelled by themselves into Glasgow； where they had gathered or
begged a stock of candles； and coming back under the cloud of night； had
surprised and alarmed the whole clachan； by lighting up their window in
the manner that I have described。 Poor Miss Sabrina； at Jenny's uncivil
salutation； went back to my lady with her heart full； and would fain have
had the idiots brought to task before the session； for what they had said to
her。 But I would not hear tell of such a thing； for which Miss Sabrina
owed me a grudge that was not soon given up。 At the same time； I was
grieved to see the testimonies of joyfulness for a holy victory； brought into
such disrepute by the ill…timed demonstrations of the two irreclaimable
naturals； that had not a true conception of the cause for which they were
triumphing。
87
… Page 88…
ANNALS OF THE PARISH
CHAPTER XXII YEAR 1781
If the two last years passed o'er the heads of me and my people
without any manifest dolour； which is a great thing to say for so long a
period in this world； we had our own trials and tribulations in the one of
which I have now to make mention。 Mungo Argyle； the exciseman；
waxing rich； grew proud and petulant； and would have ruled the country
side with a rod of iron。 Nothing less would serve him than a fine horse to
ride on； and a world of other conveniences and luxuries； as if he had been
on an equality with gentlemen。 And he bought a grand gun； which was
called a fowling…piece； and he had two pointer dogs； the like of which had
not been seen in the parish since the planting of the Eaglesham…wood on
the moorland； which was four years before I got the call。 Every body
said the man was fey； and truly； when I remarked him so gallant and gay
on the Sabbath at the kirk； and noted his glowing face and gleg een； I
thought at times there was something no canny about him。 It was indeed
clear to be seen； that the man was hurried out of himself； but nobody could
have thought that the death he was to dree would have been what it was。
About the end of summer my Lord Eaglesham came to the castle；
bringing with him an English madam； that was his Miss。 Some days
after he came down from London； as he was riding past the manse； his
lordship stopped to enquire for my health； and I went to the door to speak
to him。 I thought that he did not meet me with that blithe countenance he
was wont； and in going away； he said with a blush； 〃I fear I dare not ask
you to come to
